Magazine Moments

Sean on top of the world, literally and figuratively
for DSection

Coming clean here. Lately, I've been pretty dry on the magazine department. I still read and have the titles that I work for and they're good. But I'm not as excited over magazines and titles like before. I don't know what it is, but the some of titles I've been seeing lately haven't been as inspiring as they should be. For people like me, what gets printed ought to be magical, amazing, inspiring, relevant and should aim for an iconic, star-making moment for the people responsible in making an article, a photograph, a cover. And after growing up going through magazines and having invested myself in an appreciation for beauty, I've clung to the power of an image or a title and how, in a single issue, photograph, moment they successfully capture a feel, a mood, a piece of history. There are a few titles that are able to do this and I hope there were more.

I wish I could see more of these kinds of photos, people and magazines around. While the country already has its slew of great quality publications, I'll one day be sure that we could make more titles that are able to create, influence and hopefully change the landscape or add to the beauty that we already enjoy. Fingers crossed, I'd be able to contribute to this too. In the meantime, while we wait for this to come true, here are some of the greatest magazine moments I've seen this month.

Weekend Hits

I have to admit, I miss writing magazine-style updates on my blogs. It's the thrill of collating things, seeing them together and being able to tell a story that has gotten me interested and excited for years since I learned that I was capable of doing it. And while I rarely make the rounds these days, I've made sure to spare time  to write tonight about the things that I'm obsessing over and of course, give you a few cool things to keep you inspired and in the know during the weekend. WEEKEND HITS, coming your way!

Frank Ocean in the season's coolest sports coats with Odd Future.
Story by Amy Wallace & Photographed by Peggy Sirota
GQ December 2012

>>> OF COURSE I'll be obsessing over Frank Ocean appearing on GQ, why wouldn't I? This is like two of my favorite things coming together, like peanut butter and jelly or a cigarette and an ice cold mojito. The feature on Ocean is pretty packed, Wallace covers much of the artist's plans for his career (third album coming soon, I believe and will definitely wait for), that controversial letter on Tumblr of course and it gives you a glimpse into Ocean himself. You combine that story with Sirota's humorous, light photography and GQ's no-fail styling and you get yourself a good, good deal. Grab your copies, read the story and if your weather permits, plug into lots of Ocean and sport those damn good-looking coats...

The ML574 Mojito: mita sneakers X OSHMAN's X New Balance
High Snobiety

>>> I'VE WORN THE HELL out of my New Balance sneakers and have since been my go to shoe for dressed-down days. New Balance just is a trusty brand. When I saw the Mojito (my favorite drink too), I felt that hard beating in the chest and I know I've found a great purchase. Three brands come together, marking the collaboration with tons of those super cool "X"s for the Mojito: mita sneakers, OSHAMAN's and New Balance. The color way, materials and that leaf lock present a sure hit pair of sneakers that's bound to go massive and viral in no time. Imagine a slim black jacket, buttoned-up white shirt, lean black jeans and these? I just collapsed. It's that cool.

Envy

Years and years of fanning...I'll probably never stop. My all-time number one.

Imagine Saskia de Brauw and Garrett Neff on a cover? That's art! Someone make it happen please

I'm supposed to be working now, on something important, but since my brain does not permit that to happen, I'll relax and ogle at these faces that are inspiring the evil, jealous devil in me. One day I tell you, I'll be on the cover of a magazine...when what is handsome/beautiful has nothing to do with these species (which'll never happen). And when that day comes, I'll be happy, at peace, knowing that I too have a face deserving of a magazine cover. I kid. Appreciation folks, for the beautiful and the handsome on some of this month's finest glossies. Enjoy!

Moving Pictures

Don't blink, cause Mikkel Jensen's here and on his way up!
Mark my words, this one's out to get it big.
VOGUE Hommes Japan Spring 2013 Preview @ models.com

Give the world a few more years for publications to achieve what Harry Potter has been suggesting us all along: photos in motion on paper. Imagine that. Imagine GQ's cover coming to life, CD cover art living behind their cases, posters of wanted criminals breathing, like snippets from a film. Not impossible for sure. This makes most sense since we're at the age of marrying realities, magazines embedded with codes to be scanned for additional features, things like that. And I believe the challenge for print to stay relevant is for it to ride along with where the world is headed to, if not give it a start towards the right direction one augmented reality at a time. 

Gray Areas

YES!
ROGUE Magazine September 2012
Facebook

September issues are all looking good and it seems the strongest hue of the moment is gray. From ROGUE's taut and glistening cover, VOGUE's historic Gaga to Skarsgard's GQ Style coolness and Michael Fassbender's Russian Esquire cover (pretty interesting), everyone's having it good in the gray areas and it's possibly, one of this year's best magazine color choices ever. Clean, simple, straight-forward and very smart, gray's never looked this good. Enjoy!

Inside A Model's World

Thanks OUT.com for posting this. Now, RJ King is the voice of our generation. Do models/talents in the Philippines behave the same way? Thankfully with the ones I've worked with, they're ridiculously good-looking, work hard and as far as I know, don't see the world the way RJ King does. And I think that's a disadvantage...

To the talents I work with, I am kidding. I love you guys. For the rest of you, watch RJ King and his ridiculously good-looking friends live the life of models. Funny. 

Kidding aside, New York Fashion Week's soon so best watch out for these faces.

NOW, I have something good to follow. Keep me sane. Excited for more from VFILES!
-Gerard

Olympian Style

Kult Paper's Olympic style story
From @malemodelscene

The Isles of Wonder brought me to tears today. True. You know me, I'm a huge bowl of Soft Batch, pretty easy to make me cry. Well, not really, but when there's some heart-warming story in anything that gets my mind running on a trail such as "imagine having trained all your life and to set foot on the Olympics with the world's best..." And the story goes on to be ended with a tear. So to Danny Boyle and the team that made the Olympics happen, congratulations.

This is probably the first time I watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics and it was amazing. First parts were a little so-so for me, but the rest were just amazing. Especially the lighting of the cauldron. Just beautiful. I started getting teary-eyed when they were introducing the junior Olympians and the ones who nominated them passed on the torch---in all sense of the phrase. Lovely. The bit with the Arctic Monkeys too was great, loved that with the fireworks and all. To people who live in London and are there right now to witness it, I know it's the best time to be there...I'm so jealous. Please send my regards to the three world superstar athletes I want to see if ever I was there, Federer, world's fastest man Hussein Bolt and, my all time favorite swimmer, Ryan Lochte.

Athletes are actually quite the mesmerizing subject for other things aside from sports. They make interesting public figures, celebrities, endorsers (in my opinion, athletes present the most credible and eligible endorsers of products out there), stories and, most of all, fashion inspirations. I wasn't surprise to hear Ryan Lochte planning to have his own clothing line in the future (though not really a fan of his green stoned sneakers), because I've always had this feeling that athletes too are as into fashion and style as other people are.

And to prove that, I present you Kult Paper's story with the Olympics as its inspiration. For me this is how you should do a fashion story on sports and the Olympics. The photos may lack the overall spectacle and the magnitude a world wide audience provides in real life, but this one makes up for it by giving you a true fashion story that manages to braid the spirit of athleticism with the flawless, beautiful world of fashion. What you have is something cool, vintage in feel and inspiring you to be good-looking, sporty and stylish (if it's ever humanly possible). Shot by Ben Lamberty with models from Kult Modeling Agency.

The Look

Anja Rubik, what does Mark Ronson smell like?
Fan di Fendi @ DesignScene

What're we looking at? Well, only the coolest campaigns, editorials and covers happening this month. Here's a hump day treat for all of you beauty, art, fashion appreciators. Enjoy!

P.S. If you see how this post is arranged, another hint at my state of mind... hahaha

Beauty by Camus and Ton

This just wowed me. It's this close to being perfect.
Bette Franke by Tommy Ton for Style.com

Might've been the big F. Scott Fitzgerald fan in me that has taught and changed my perception of beauty that beauty, in whatever way, is best enjoyed when its fleeting, moving and easily burned. Not to say that all things ugly ought to stay while things beautiful should only last for seconds. But it's probably the best way to have it. 

It's always that empty and yearning feeling beauty leaves that you set out your life for, something I obviously picked up from The Great Gatsby, and as Khalil Gibran said (my all time favorite quote) " We live only to discover beauty. All else is a form of waiting..." So what beauty is, actually is the great heaven or nirvana that you chase after and design your life for. Once encountered, you will definitely want to look at it more, love it more, be with it more until finally, you completely understand and get what it is and what makes it beautiful. 

So imagine just how happy I was after seeing this photo of Bette Franke by Tommy Ton. It is everything I have pictured "beauty" to be in today's context. She is effortlessly put-together, very stylish , a human being in fact, but somewhat someone above us...Truly beautiful. If I had been there, I'd sigh and have the memory of her breezing by tattooed in my head. I know it might be too much of a reaction, but if what I see everyday is this beautiful, I would be literally, on a high. Albert Camus puts the feeling best in words. 

"Beauty is unbearable, drives us to despair, offering us for a minute the glimpse of an eternity that we should like to stretch out over the whole of time." --- Albert Camus

Just plain beautiful.

- Gerard

Games Beginning

Come prepared!
More athleticism, urban feel and sporty goods to come in fashion
photo: Tommy Ton

Style disciples from our shores (Manila) know pretty well that Preview magazine, one of the most revered fashion publications in the Philippines will be holding their annual Best Dressed Ball in some weeks, with one of their better (for me) themes in the years I've followed them: Athletic Chic. Having checked Spring 2013 so far, it's evident that athleticism and sporty clothes will be staying as one of the more exciting trends for fashion. Street style blogs the world over have those pops of Nikes competing for the many Pins that old school wingtips, boat shoes and monks currently have in spades. 

And yes, I have blogged days ago about the whole sporty thing going on for me and for some cool people I know as well like the Mike Concepcion and super friend Bryle Penamante, hey guys! Aside from the fact that Sporty is no more of a joke for the stylish set, it's a look at what the world of fashion and our culture is going through. I still don't know what it is exactly that summarizes the reason why this is happening, but I am liking it. So it's pretty obvious I am having a sweating style fest here, nursing a really bad hang over for things athletic.

Since I am obsessed about it as of the moment, I bring you some of the best athletic-inspired street style photos by famous street style blogs we know of. Check out the many appearances of Nike, the subtle yet strong presence of sneakers, beautiful ladies in chic, court-ready clothes and more. 

It seems like fashion is no longer sitting pretty on the benches and is, finally, going strong on the field. Fashion says let the games begin!

Commercial Beauty

One of the best commercials. Glorious and cool.

It's a good ad, I admit and heavenly fitting shoe
but it's just not for me.

My sister once told me, after laying out for her my amazement over the stories I've heard from people I know, celebrities and their endorsements and things of the same caliber, how easily sold I am of what people tell me. She's never said though that what I've been hearing are complete lies, she's just keen on pointing out that it's not hard for me to believe things people say. It's not the first time I've been called gullible too or any other word to that affect, so maybe I am. Although the truth is, I could sense pretty well when people tell me bull, unless I am faced with a genius liar, then...

In my case, I may seem like I agree or believe in certain things, but I try to detach myself once I feel like I am biting into something that I still have doubts with. While this happens often, there are also those many times when I am just floored at the details that wrap either the wonderful truth or some awful lie. Sometimes, I believe in things because of presentation or anything that has to deal with the physical. It is shallow, I know. But I'm a bit hopeful that the reason why things are well presented, good to look at, or just basically pleasurable to the senses is because there is at least a pinch of something beautiful in it.

Old Times

The best period editorial I've seen in a while.
VOGUE Turkey, shows you how it should look like at a shoot.

Always liked the old times. After picking up my favorite novel, The Great Gatsby, I've been caught and trapped under its spell. It might have been Fitzgerald's delicious writing---that I keep as my touchstone for everything I write, or the knowledge that afforded me after all I've read that just made me love the 20s and the 30s. And then I went on to the 50s and all the legends and icons of those days... And it was then that I realized how much of a romantic I am.

These were the times when my 80 something year old grandmother was having a whiff of first love and times when long-gone relatives have lived stories that we only get to read now...Through literature, movies, art, music and fashion, I've seen only what has been and have never had the slightest idea of how it really was back in the "good old days". But there was something about the lack of all happy, poppy color, or the subtlety of color that I find pretty interesting, something I've deduced from looking at old photos and watching old movies. To me it all seemed as if things were all too fine, too poised for the ladies and for the gents, too smooth yet masculine. Suddenly it's as if you could smell airplane gasoline, something cold, old perfume, cigarettes and liquor in the air...Somehow, it felt simpler, but still overwhelmingly dramatic and inspiring. 

I still have a so-so idea why the past lures people in. Usually, the expectations from people who love to read and write is that they know why people drop anchor to the past. I, only have an idea: If you could cut the entire population to romantics and futurists (if there is such a thing), you've got half for each.. Most of us look back at what has been and call it inspiring, the rest look forward, dreaming up things and call that inspiring. Personally, I think the past is all so hypnotic because it has a sense of rawness to it, something untouched and important. Now I feel like things are so conveniently gelled together, less pure and that the world is looking smaller that there's only so little room for more. But of course, that's a sickness I suffer from. I am, anyway a romantic and am guilty of being foolish to want to live at a time I'm not meant to be in. So here is a tribute to the old times, when, in the eyes of present past-lovers such as myself, is all how time should be: all inspiring, a pinch magical and incredibly beautiful.

The Girls & The Boys

Werner Schreyer for L'Officiel Hommes

I present to you this weekend's round-up of boys and girls that inspire our every single day. At first, I felt like doing a gender, color story and how in an ideal world, boys are blues and greys and girls are all orange, red and pink, but that'd be too boring. I still though follow the color scheme, but concentrate more on the photos and the people.

But anyway, as usual, what happens during my weekend posts is that there is always something I find right about certain photos and how they gel together. My problem is, I don't know exactly what it is! haha. Enjoy this weekend's post and have a great week ahead.

Sunday Beauties

Aline Weber. Beautiful 

Keeping it short and sweet for all of you. Here is Salt's weekend treat, presenting you all of them great beauties for your Sunday. As I always say, there is nothing more healing and exciting and inspiring than beauty, so by all means enjoy...

Would you look at that ensemble. At first I thought it was Givenchy, but it's not...
The best magazine cover for me this month. PLUS, my favorite Angel ever.
Rosie for VOGUE Brazil....

Top center, that's Parker Gregory and I believe he's leading Jeffrey Fashion Cares now...Which I really like.
Another favorite is lower left Jae Yoo. 

Do you believe this? Men's Health Spain.
Harry Goodwins. Check out all the great photos here

Parker Gregory (again) and Angela Lindvall... This is great casting right here

Fanny Francois for Flair

Patrick Kafka, always looking great

- Gerard

While Hot

Perfection! Magdalena Frackowiak

Well I have no idea what kind of weather we're having tomorrow, but it sure is getting real hot now, rain or shine. I used to be the last person who declares enjoying summer time. But now, I surprisingly like the heat. It's the challenge of staying cool that I enjoy. Which clothes to wear and buy, which shoes to wear, what kind of food to eat, I especially love when magazines suggest different kinds of food that are perfect for the melting weather. And of course, I've got all the valid reasons to splurge on cold drinks and ice cream.

But what's most lovable for me during summer are all the tight, tanned, cool, dry and/or well-moisturized looks that glossies give you, from the clothes down to the hair styling. They inspire me and get me all worked up to go out and brave the heat, even if I only look half-decent next to these demigods. So, whatever kind of weather this summer really brings us, I present to you super hot photos for our Great-Looking Weekend that celebrate all of summer's beauty...

To Inspire

Been dry on the fashion front lately. I used to be so into it, that I had committed to memory so much things about fashion. Now, I feel like I've lost touch. Well maybe not completely, but to put it in better terms, I've placed more time and effort on other things than the pursuit of all things fashion.

I might've mentioned before, under much pretense, how fashion is my first love. Truth is, it's not. It's one among the many things I've conveniently bundled under the label "BEAUTY" or "ART", which I love dearly. But I can never deny that fashion plays such a crucial role in my life and how I view things.

I'm the kind of person who---honestly, believes it's a valid excuse to pass on an event when I'm not dressed accordingly. That's valid in my book. Like that successful Magnum ball last Wednesday. I was so out of it, I went to the launch looking like I tried to meet the event's dress code, instead of actually wearing it. This close I tell you, to calling it a day for that event, but all turned out well and happy and fun, even when I didn't dress the part.

I'm also the kind of person who notices style and how people dress. It's the story angle about it which I love and I find incredibly exciting about fashion and style. How a camel blazer looks different on different guys, or how those "mandatory" glittery, hanging tops look sexy on others and ultra feminine on some.

This all started when I came home last night, at around 3 in the morning I went on YouTube to see if my favorite, favorite model--Garrett Neff, had anything new on video. His latest one was an episode from Brad Goreski's series and it showed Brad styling for that DETAILS issue with Ashton on the cover (September 2011). Here's the case in point and you'll understand how things look incredibly different for different people. Even when both Garrett and Ryan are models (and they do look alike somehow), both of them lend their own touches to styled looks. It's that personal touch I look for, that feel of anything unique and for a lack of a better term, the personal in fashion, which I always find so interesting and inspiring.

And while I've decided to get back on updating myself in terms of style and fashion, I'm glad the internet is home to so much inspiration, you'll never have a reason again to say no to an event (like me) because you're not dressing the part.

I hope you enjoy these collection of inspirations, things, you've noticed, I really love to do for my blog, and I hope you'll find something enlightening in everything here as I have.

Male Supers & Madonna

Maybe it's about f-ing time guys get the spotlight and have the titles "Supers", right?

And what better way to prove that point than to have Madonna put these four super males for her latest video.

Sean, Simon, Jon and Rob... Although I'm not too keen on Rob, but hey, I'm no hater plus when Madonna and models.com has say on it, then it's the word.

- Gerard

Coverage

Not a Novak fan, but he's on top PLUS I'm smelling a Dolce & Gabbana campaign for this one.
GQ Italia

I know that what drives traffic to my blog usually revolve around magazine-related things and magazine covers are definitely part of that. Aside from the fact that I am still a HUGE magazine fan, these are great covers that are worth your few seconds. 

I present to you the latest magazine covers from around the world for March/April 2012. If only I could read everything and understand everything... Enjoy!

The Crew

The line-up you'd wish you were in.
J. Crew's Fall 2012 Collection @models.com

Learned this in our Film Theory class back in college and have also read it somewhere, that people are usually pleased when things turn out the way they imagine it in their heads. In simpler terms, when things meet our expectations. Whether or not you give this your approval, it does somehow ring true that when you're faced with something, a new song, a relationship, a movie, a book, parties and dinners out, you tag with it some kind of expectation and when it ends to meet what you've tagged it with, you're smiling.

State of Mind

Here is a look inside my state of mind as of the moment. Taken from some of this month's best photos, magazines, websites and stories, I realized that at times to give some sense into a cluttered, busy mind, all it takes is a few good photos and great people that make these possible...And then somehow, it'll make sense, whatever it is I need to wrap my head around. 

Cate Blanchett

The photographers at Theysken's Theory, shot by Thomas Prior

Kinga Rajzak photographed by Evan Sung backstage at Vera Wang NYFW 2012

At LACOSTE NYFW 2012, photographed by Victoria Will

Behind the scenes at W Korea Magazine's anniversary issue

Liam Hemsworth for DETAILS magazine. By Norman Jean Roy

The Goddess for VOGUE March 2012. Adele by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott

Tarik Lakehal by Steeve  Beckouet for Essential Homme

Garrett shot by Yu Tsai for Contributor Magazine